Louise shows her class!
For the last 2 years South Charnwood School has been the excellent venue for the first race in the Derby Runner Cross Country Series. Last year the temperature was 25 degrees and sun tan lotion & ordinary road running shoes were the order of the day. This year, while the morning was bright and crisp, gloves and cross country shoes or spikes, were the main requirement. 15 runners from the Club joined over 500 other masochists on the start line of this 5.6 mile course over what is euphemistically called a ‘proper’ XC course. Running her first cross country for a number of years, Louise Insley put in the performance of the day with a superb 41.58 for 3rd place out of 166 finishers in the women’s race. Keeping clear of trouble in the inevitable chaotic start Louise made light of the calf deep mud in places to set an early marker for the WV40 prize in this very competitive series. The only other Club member in the women’s race was Linda Tempest and she put in her usual gritty performance to finish in 164th place.
Also setting down early markers for category prizes were Chris Mason and 2012 Club Champion, Colin Mee, who finished in 72nd and 80th place and times of 40.10 and 40.48 respectively out of 348 finishers in the men’s race. Off the back of a tough autumn of races Chris Gunstone did well to keep Colin in his sites and ran well to finish in 41.20 & 87th place. There then followed a really close battle between Simon Hackett and Paul McKay with Simon just edging out Paul in 129th and 130th place finishes. Not far behind was Steve Leafe in 140th followed by XC debutant Andy Orme in 170th place. Andy, who continues to improve with every race, attributes his success to pre-race protein loading at a well known American/international chain restaurant. There was then a trio of runners, Ray Udall, Malcolm Moore and Adrian Middleton who ran well to finish in 203rd, 216th and 241st places respectively. Another tight battle to complete the finishers for the Club followed between Steve Tempest, Steve Fowler and another XC debutant, Tony Phillips. Showing his usual grit and determination Steve Tempest finished in 313th place, with the other Steve, making a very welcome return to the yellow vest, in 317th and Tony in 322nd.
The next race is at Sinai Park, Burton on Trent on Sunday 2nd December 2012. Just down the road so if you’ve never done XC before a great opportunity to sample this quirky tradition.
For full race results click here
